Board of Commissioners Workshop Meeting

MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR WORKSHOP MEETING JUNE 24, 2020 6:00 P.M. A regular workshop meeting of the City of Madeira Beach Board of Commissioners was held at 6:00 p.m. on June 24, 2020, in the Patricia Shontz Commission Chambers at City Hall, located at 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, Florida. MEMBERS PRESENT: John B. Hendricks, Mayor Doug Andrews, Vice Mayor/Commissioner District 3 Helen "Happy., Price, Commissioner District 1 Nancy Hodges, Commissioner District 2 MEMBERS ABSENT: John Douthirt, Commissioner District 4 CITY STAFF PRESENT: Robert Daniels, City Manager Clara VanBlargan, City Clerk Patty Kordis, Deputy Clerk Thomas Trask, Interim City Attorney 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hendricks called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. ROLLCALL City Clerk Clara VanBlargan called the roll. 3, PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Davis Slosser, 494 Crystal Drive, explained his reasons why he did not agree with how City Code read regarding excessive property restriction in the R-1 residential zoning. There is excessive restrictive property right infringement for no identifiable purpose or logic. It is related explicitly to the definition of a structure as it affects the 30-foot set back in R-1 zoning waterfront property. He asked that his code compliance case be put on hold until the Commission can review the code. He requested that his current application for a permit be released from the Building Department since it is independent of the code violation. He provided a handout that was distributed to the Board. 4. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION A. Increase tines for littering on Beach- Mayor John B. Hendricks June 24, 2020, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 1 of5 This item was moved to be the first item on the agenda. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comments. Audrey Cevaer, 201 E. Madeira Avenue, asked that the City help make the City of Madeira Beach be the cleanest beach in Pinellas County. She is one of the organizers of a group called the Trash Pirates. With help from the community and the possibility of more signage and stricter fmes for people caught littering, they may achieve their goal. Robert Preston, 425 S. Bayshore Drive, said people do not need second chances for littering. Tom Edwards, protected address, said there is a state statute that governs littering, and most cities have rules in place. It would be challenging to ticket people on the beach where it is harder to see people litter. He suggested working in conjunction with the Sheriff's Department to enforce the fines. Jeff Beggins, 429 Boca Ciega Drive, was in favor of implementing a strict fine to help people realize Madeira Beach is serious about being the cleanest beach around. Commissioner Price asked the current fine for littering. Sherriff Deputy Snyder explained there are presence of officers on the beach during the day and trash receptacles could not be left on the beach overnight, as it violates the "Leave No Trace" ordinance. He said the minimum fine at this time is $100.00. Vice Mayor Andrews suggested increasing the number of trash receptacles on the beach during the day and adding more signage. He asked ifthe sanitation crew could make a second trip during the day to remove trash later in the day. Commissioner Price suggested a sign letting people know there would be a fine for littering. Tom Edwards, protected address, suggested placing a deputy in high traffic areas at peak times to watch for violators and issue citations. The Board consented to a $250 fme for the first offense and asked the City Attorney to draft an ordinance for the next regular meeting. B. Public Private Partnenhips - Pocket Parks - Mayor John B. Hendricks This item was moved to the second item on the agenda. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comments. JeffBeggins, 429 Boca Ciega Drive, commented in favor of the Public-Private Partnership. Robert Preston, 425 S. Bayshore Drive, supported the idea of making different types of pocket parks throughout the City, allowing citizens who don't live on the water easy access to the intercoastal. City Manager Robert Daniels said he would investigate partnership opportunities for funding the improvements to the parks. June 24, 2020, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 2 of5 The Board asked that this item be placed on the July regular workshop meeting agenda. C. S-Year Capital Improvement Plan Review - Walt Pierce, City Treasurer/Finance Director, Robert Daniels, City Manager Deputy Clerk Patty Kordis distributed documents to the Board from the Finance Director. Finance Director Walt Pierce explained the item and responded to questions and comments by the Board. Commissioner Hodges inquired about the remaining balance of $33,942 for the Military Code of Honor when the original amount was $41,000 set aside for the project. Director Pierce explained the difference in the amount of money paid was for a survey and site plan for the area. The City Manager said the Cambria Hotel was enthusiastic about hosting a VIP fundraising event to support the Military Code of Honor's project in the future. Vice Mayor Andrews commented that a quick response vehicle for the Fire Department would save the City wear and tear on the ladder truck. The City Manager said after ten years, the vehicles start to have mechanical problems. It takes about two years to buy a new fire engine. The City would need to begin the process to purchase it in 2021. Commissioner Price asked why there was $45,000 budgeted for improvements to the dais. The City Manager explained that the money would be used in phases to make repairs in the future. Director Pierce explained the expenditure in the improvement plan, and requests made by staff are only requests. Commissioner Price inquired if the company that built the Fire Station was aware the building needed significant repairs. Director Ahrens said he believed the contractor had been notified in the past and is drafting a letter informing them of the continuing issues. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Robert Preston, 425 S. Bayshore Drive, was in favor of the City purchasing a quick response vehicle. He said the City needed to look deeper than the poor construction on the firehouse. There needed to be a review of the architectural and engineering designs to see if they are correct. Jeff Brooks, 425 150th Avenue, was in favor of getting bed tax and impact fees implemented to help with revenue for the City. D. Fire Fighter Pay during COVID-19 (verbal report) -Robert Daniels, City Manager City Manager Robert Daniels said the firefighters are involved in a three-year collective bargaining agreement. The labor attorney is scheduling a meeting with the tirefighter' s union to work through the proposals. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. There were no public comments. June 24, 2020, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 3 of5  E. Correction of Press Release regardln1 recent Marina Examination - Board of Commissioners Commissioner Price said she had revised the press release and asked the Board to review it. After discussion by the Board, it was decided to continue working on the press release and discuss it at the next workshop meeting. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Jeff Brooks, 425 150th Avenue, said he did not agree with everything that happened in the recent town hall meeting, but did think it was constructive and thanked Vice Mayor Andrews for taking the time to organize the meeting. Tom Edwards, protected address, asked that while the City Manager is .researching information to see if there was an actual first report with CRI (Carr Riggs & Ingram), the press release could be postponed. F. Auditor Selection Committee - Robert Daniels, City Manager City Manager Robert Daniels explained the item. Interim City Attorney Tom Trask said he was concerned that the previous process was not done correctly. It would need to be treated as a meeting that was not in compliance with the Sunshine Law and there needed to be a cure meeting and to start the complete process over. Anything done going forward, the City would meet the requirements of the statute. There are some technical problems with what the original committee did. He recommended appointing new members and a renewed process. Vice Mayor Andrews suggested that the Board of Commissioners take over the responsibilities of the Auditor Selection Committee and to start the process over. Mayor Hendricks nominated Vice Mayor Andrews to be the chair on the committee. The Board consented. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Tom Edwards, protected address, said he was on the committee and gave some background information on what had occurred. G. Filling the vacancy of City Treasurer and advertising for the Position - Robert Daniels City Manager The City Manager reviewed the item and answered questions and comments by the Board. Vice Mayor Andrews was in favor ofhaving each commissioner have a one-on•one meeting with Andrew Laflin before deciding to bring him on board as the finance consultant. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. There were no public comments. H. Crystal Island Project Update (verbal report) - Al Carrier, Principal of Deuel & Associates June 24, 2020, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 4 of5 Al Carrier, Deuel & Associates, gave an update on the progress of the Crystal Island roadway project. The project is slightly under budget and ahead of schedule. He answered questions and comments by the Board. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. There were no public comments. I. Public Private Partnerships - Pocket Parks -Mayor John Hendricks This item was discussed earlier on the agenda. J. Increase Fines for littering on Beach - Mayor John Hendrie/cs This item was discussed earlier on the agenda. The City Manager said he supported the Pinellas County ordinance to wear masks when entering any public building. City Hall employees would be required to wear masks at work. The City Manager said he would be adding to the special meeting scheduled on June 30th, at 6:00 p.m., the resolution for the Local Mitigation Strategy Program that was being adopted by Pinellas County. 5. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hendricks adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m. . . \. ~,=~.._,-- . ks,Mayor ATT~ T: (L 16 I i:s/1w._ , Clara VanBlargan, MMC, MSM, City c'2,~ June 24, 2020, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page S ofS